Luggage-carrier for bicycles



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. i J. T. LONG. LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR BIGYGLES.

N0. 579,439. bpatented Mar. 23, 1897.

f/Oz/MWJ* fig@ f @rw ilNrr "rares Arena* much.

LUGGAGE-CARRIER FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,439, dated March 23, 1897'. Application iled September 24, 1896. Serial No. 606,812. (No model.)

To all whom, t 77mg/ concern,.-

Be itknown that I, JOHN T. LONG, of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luggage-Carriers for Bicycles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved construction in luggage-carriers for bicycles of that class adapted for detachable connection with the front frame-stand ard or steeringhead of a bicycle.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a view in side elevation of a steering-head of a bicycle with the luggage-carrier attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear face View of the upper holding-ring of the carrier when folded down into the hori- Zontal position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same in its lifted or extended position. Fig. 4 is a detaildplan view of the lower fastening device of the carrier, said view being taken upon section-line 4 a of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a rear face view of the lower1 fastening device when separated from the steering-head. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a central vertical section through the carrier, showing the carrier itself without its attachin g devices. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through one end of the same. Fig. 9 is a plan section of the same, taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7. Fig. l0 is a central vertical section with the parts of the carrier open. Fig. 1l is a sectional plan view of the lower fastening device, taken on the line ll ll of liig. 5. Fig. l2 is a detailview from beneath of one of the hinged connections of one of the holding-arms with the base-plate.

As illustrated in said drawings, A indicates thesteering-head of a bicycle, and B the luggage-carrier, which in this instance generally resembles a small trunk or Satchel, but which is inclined at its Vrear face or that adjacent to the steering-head to correspond with the inclination of the latter, and also preferably inclined at its front wall to a corresponding extent, so as to give symmetrical form to the carrier, as seen in end view.

5 5 First describing the devices for detachably securing the luggage-carrier to the bicycleframe, these parts are made as follows: C, Figs. l to G, indicates a flat base plate or strip which is secured rigidly to the outer face of. 6o

the rear wall B of the carrier at the middle thereof by means of rivets c or other suitable attaching means. l At its upper end said plate carries a holding-ring D, adapted to engage the steering-head, preferably at a point below the upper frame-bar, and at its lower end a holding device E, adapted to clasp the steering-head just above the lower frame-bar, so as to support the carrier against downward pressure, due to its own weight and the weight 7o In order to enable the carrier to be conveniently used when detached from the machin e,theholding devices are so constructed that they may be folded flat against the rear wall of the carrier.

Referring now to the upper securing-ring 8o D, the same is shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 and is made as follows: D D' are two curved or segmental arms adapted to embrace the outer part or surface of the steering-head and pivoted to a rearwardly-proj ectin g lug c 8 5 on the upper end of the plate O by means of a pivot-stud or rivet (l. At their rear or free ends the segmental arms D' D are pivotally connected to other segmental arms D2 D2,

which are adapted to extend around or em- 9o brace the rear 'surface of the steering-head. Said arms D2 are connected with the arms D by means of vertical pivots d d', so that the arms D2 may swing on said pivots to carry their free ends apart to admit the steeringhead between them and to bring them together for the purpose of closing them around the said steering-head.

A catch or holding device 'is provided for securing together the free ends of the arms roo D2 when closed around the steering-head. The same is herein shown as consist-ing of a spring-detent cl2, which is arranged in a recess in one of the arms and is adapted to enter a recess in the other arm andto engage a holding projection d2 thereon, Fig. 2. A sliding stud dt is adapted to bear upon the spring-detent d2 in such manner that the de-V to thereby facilitate the attachment of the ring to the bicycle-frame two fiat springs F F are secured to the. plate C, with their free ends in position to bear outwardly against the swinging ends of the arms-D, and said inner ends of the arms are provided with flat bearingsurfaces d5, which rest in contact with the springs when the ring is in its eX- tended position. Said springs serve by contact with the said flat surfaces to hold the rin g extended, while at the same time they are free to yield or bend and to t-hus permit the ring to be swung on its pivot in folding it downwardly against the plate. Said springs also act upon the fiat side faces of the arms D when the ring is folded downwardly and thereby serve to hold the ring from movement when in that position.

Next referring to the construction of the lower holding device E, the same is made as follows: G G indicate two metal plates which are mounted to swing on vertical pivots at the lower end of the plate C and are so located as to extend rearwardly at opposite sides of the lower member of the steering-head when the carrier is in position thereon. Said plates G are herein shown as pivoted to the plate C by means 0f rearwardly-extending lugs or hinge projections c2 c2 on the lower end of the plate and bearing studs or pins g, which are inserted through said lugs and engage the upper and lower margins of the plates. Said plates g are further provided with rearwardly-extending rigid arms G G', which extend rearwardly from the plates in such manner as to reach past the steering-head and engage the sides of the lower frame-bar, said arms serving by their contact with the said bar to hold the carrier from any swaying or sidewise movement, such as might occur by the turning of the holding device on the steering-head. The plates G Gwith the arms G G are adapted to fold inwardly or toward each other, but are restrained from outward movement past their rearward or parallel position by means of suitable stops. For the purpose of limiting the outward movement of said plates the latter are provided at their upper and lower ends with lugs or stop projections g2 g2, which extend outside of the bearinglugs c2 c2 and are adapted to strike against the outer faces of said lugs at points near the base-plate in order to limit themovemeut of said plates. Said plates, moreover, are adapted to swing inwardly or toward each other about their pivots g when being folded, the arms G' G being` arranged one above another, so 'that they will pass each other when the plates are folded flat against the rear wall of the carrier. 'A

Asa means of holdingor clam ping the lower part of the steering-head within or between the plates G G straps G2 G2 are attached to the free ends of said plates in such manner as to pass around the steering-head above the lower frame-bar, and similar straps G3 G3 are attached to the arms G G', so as to pass over said bar, the free ends of said straps being connected by means of buckles in a familiar manner. Said straps G2 and G3 are shown as engaged with the plates G and arms G by means of elongated slots g' and g2, formed in the said plates and arms, as clearly seen in Fig. 6.

Vhile two sets of straps are shown, yet both may not in all cases be needed, and one set alone may be used, preferably the straps G2, which serve mainly to sustain the weight of the luggage-carrier.

The manner of attaching the luggage-carrier to the bicycle-frame may be readily un derstood. Assuming the fastening devices to be folded flat against the back of the earrier, the upper clamping-ring D is thrown outwardly and its arms D2D2 open, while the straps G2 G3 are unbuckled and the plate G IOC and arms G are swung outwardly parallel i with each other. The carrier is then placed against the steering-head, so as to bring the arms G at opposite sides of the front end of the lower frame-bar, and the straps G2 G3 are then buckled and the arms D2 D2 of the clamping-ring closed about the steering-head. XV hen the parts are attached, the upper and lower holding devices firmly hold the carrier upon the steering-head, while the arms G prevent any swinging or sidewise movement of the carrier.

To now refer to improved features of construction in the carrier B itself, the same is made as follows: The body of the carrier consists of end walls b b, a rear wall B, and a bottom wall b', the same being permanently connected with each other. Hinged to the rear wall is a top or lid B2, consisting of atop and front and side anges and having` attached to its center a hand-grip or handle b2. The front wall B2 of the carrier forms the bot tom of a separate compartment or tray B4, Figs. '7 and l0, which is connected byahinge b2 with the front edge of the bottom l). An internal wall b4 extends between the end walls at the rear of the front wall B2 and is connected at its lower edge with the bottom wall b at a distance from the hinge b3 practically equal to the depth of the folding tray B4. It follows from this construction that the carrier contains a main compartment formed by the end, bottom, and rear walls and by the partition b4 and a second compartment formed by the iolding tray B4 and the inner wall of which is formed of said partition b4 when the tray is folded upwardly, as seen in Fig. 7. Said tray B4 is held in its folded position by en gagement of the flan ged front portion of the lid B3 therewith. A suitable strap or equivalent fastening device, as seen at if, will be employed to hold the lid closed. The

side walls of the tray B4 are extended to form projections B5, which overlap and extend outside of the end walls b when the tray is folded upwardly into closed position, as clearly seen in Figs. l and lO.

In addition to the compartment above described I also provide in the upper part of hinges o and o7 both trays can be swung upwardly to approximately vertical positions, as seen in Fig. l0, thereby affording free access to the lower or main compartment of the carrier.

By making the attaching devices of the carrier so that they maybe folded flat against its rear wall7 as described, and by providing a handle at its top said carrier forms a use ful satchel when detached from the bicycle.

I claim as my invention l. A luggage-carrier for bicycles provided with detachable securing devices comprising rearwardly-projecting arms which are adapted to engage opposite sides of one of the framebars ot' the machine to hold the carrier from lateral oscillation.

2. Aluggage-carrier provided with attaching devices which consist of vertically-separated parts for engagementwith the steeringhead and two rearwardly-projecting, parallel arms adapted to engage opposite sides of one of the frame-bars of the machine.

3. A luggage-carrier provided with attaching devices for securing it to the steeringhead, said attaching devices vcomprising a clamping-ring which has pivotal connection with the wall of the carrier so that it maybe folded iiat against the same.

4. A luggage-carrier provided with means for securing it to the steering-head of a bicycle, said means embracing arms which eX- tend rearwardly from the carrier and engage the front surface of the steering-head and other segmental arms pivoted to the rear end of the iirst arms and provided at their free ends with securing means.

5. A luggage-carrier provided with means for securing it to the steering-head of a bicycle, said means embracing arms which extend rearwardly from the carrier and engage `the front surface of the steering-head and other segmental arms pivoted to the rear ends of the lirst arms and provided at their free ends with securing means consisting of a spring-catch on the free endof one of said arms adapted to engage a detent projection on the other of said arms.

G. A luggage-carrier embracing means for securing the same to the steering-head of a bicycle, the same embracing two plates hinged to the rear wall of the carrier and provided with rigid arms which engage one of the framebars of the bicycle and provided also with a detachable securing device adapted to extend around or embrace a part of the frame.

7. A luggage-carrier embracing means for securin g the same to the steering-head of a bicycle, the same embracing two plates hinged tofthe rear wall of the. carrierrand provided with rigid arms which engage one of the front bars of the bicycle and provided also with attaching means extending around apart of the frame, consisting of straps attached to said plates.

S. A luggage-carrier embracing means for securing the same to the steering-head of a bicycle, the same embracing two plates hinged to the rear wall of the carrier and provided with rigid arms which engage one of the framebars of the bicycle and provided also with attaching means extending around one of the frame-bars of the machine and straps for limitin g the outward movement of the said arms when in their extended position.

9. A luggage-carrier comprising means for detachably securing the same to the steeringhead of a bicycle, said means embracing a clamping-ring which is hinged to the rear wall of the carrier so as to fold flat against the same and two hinged plates also hinged to the said rear wall so as to fold fiat against the same, said plates being provided with rigid rearwardly-extending arms, and also -with attaching means adapted to embrace one of the frame-bars of the bicycle.

l0. A luggage-carrier comprising means for detachably securing the same to the steeringhead cfa bicycle, said means embracing a clamping-ring which is hinged to the rear wall of the carrier so as to fold flat against the same and two hinged plates also hinged to the said rear wall so as to fold flat against the same, said plates being provided with rigid rearwardly-extending arms, and also with securing means, and the plates being further provided with stops to limit their outward movement.

ll. As a means of Vsecuring a luggage-carrier to the steering-head of a bicycle, a plate adapted for attachment to the luggage-carrier and provided at its upper end with a clamping-ring which is hinged to the plate and has at its lower end two hinged plates provided with rigid rearwardly-extending arms and with securing means.

12. A luggage-carrier provided with attach- IOO IIO

IZO

ing devices for securing it to the steeringhead of a bicycle, said attaehing deviges being secured to the rear Wall thereof and adapted to fold fiat against the same, and provided also with a grip or handle at its top.

13. A luggage-Carrier Comprising permanently-Connected bottom, end, rear and front Walls, a tray hinged at the lower end to the front of the carrier and adapted to fold upwardly against the front Wall thereof, and a lid or cover hinged to the rear Wall and anged at its front Wall to engage said tray and hold the'same closed.

14. A luggage-Carrier Comprising permanently-connected bottom, end, rear and front Walls, a tray hinged at its lower edge to the bottom of the carrier and adapted to fold upwardly against the front Wall thereof, and a lid or cover hinged to the rear Wall and flanged at its front Wall to engage said tray and hold closed the same, the Side Walls of said tray being extended to form projections which overlap the end Walls of the carrier.

l5. A luggage-carrier Comprising permanently-connected bottom, end, rear and front Walls, a tray hinged at its lower edge to the bottom of the carrier and adapted to fold upwardly against the front Wall thereof, and a tray or trays hinged to the rear Wall and resting at their front margins upon the stationary front Wall of the Carrier.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix 1n y sign ature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 22d day of September, A. D. 1896.

JOHN T. LONG.

Vitnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, WILLIAM L. HALL. 

